Improvement in low-water signals for steam-boilers



T. BINGHAM' &f--T.J.VMG.TIGHB. LOW Water Signal fo;1 VYSteam Boilers.

A N9. 201,588. -v Patented March; 26,1878.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BINGHAM AN'D THOMAS `J. MCTIGHE, OF PITTSBURG, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER SlGNALS FOR STEAM-BIOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,588, dated March 26, 1878 application iiled J une 21, 1877.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known 'that we, THOMAS BINGHAM and THoMAs J. MG'IIGHE, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-Water Signals for Steam-Boilers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which-7 Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section, showing the hereinafter-described relation of the cap, the valve, and compound lever-connection with the float. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a modification in the arrangement or mutual relation of the levers.

This invention relates to low-water alarms or signals of that class in which a iioat inclosed in a chamber is, by the rise and fall of the water, caused to operate a valve leading to a steam-whistle; and it consists in connecting the valve and float by a system of compoundlevers in the hereinafter-described connection with the cap of the chamber, whereby the chamber-walls are free from all irregularities or resting-places for the mud and scale of steam-boilers.

In the drawings, A designates the casing or chamber, having cylindrical sides and rounded bottom, terminating in an outlet for connections, and its interior is sheer and smooth throughout. A perforated guide piece, ct, crosses above the outlet.

A cap, B, is constructed to fit the chamber A, having a vent, b, at the top and valve-seat o recessed into its inner face, diverging to allow a little oscillation of the valve. The cap B has two slotted guide-posts and pivot-bean ings, d d', arranged as shown in the drawings. Pivoted in the slot in guide-post d is a simple lever, e, having the enlargement e', which is perforated to a double conical shape, as seen in Fig. 3, and in this is pivoted a valve, o, as shown in the same ligure. By this means, as the lever e turns about its pivot or fulcrum, the valve has room to play into its seat, and

in opening gravity will still cause its point to fall toward the center line, and in this manner the valve cannot stick. At the other end of lever e a vertical link, g, is pivoted, being also pivoted below to a second lever, h, which, in turn, is pivoted to the post d', and at its other end is pivoted to the top of iloat C., which has a guide-rod, t', projecting downwardly through guide c. By this means a powerful compound leverage is obtained in a very small space, a nearly straight pull on the valve is effected, while the interior ofthe chamber is absolutely free from obstructions. This last is a very important-a very essential-characteristic of our invention, for every projection or recess in such devices affords a lodgment to mud and .lower end of the pipe projects into the boiler to thepoint at whose level it is desired that the signal will operate. So long as the boiler- Water is above this level it will be forced upward into the chamber, maintaining the float and keeping the valve shut; but when the water-level falls below the pipe end the water drops out of the chamber, and the float, being no longer maintained, drops with it, and by means of the levers the valve is opened, and the steam rushes out and sounds the alarmwhistle.

The cap, its vent b, valve-seat c, and the two depending combined pivot-bearin gs and slotted guides d d are all in one integral piece, to

make construction cheap and prevent the danger of leakage apt to occur by riveting or piecing.

We claim- In a low-water signal apparatus having the The cap has a vers, substantially as shown, the combination, have hereto set our hands this 20th day of with the valve-lever e, pvoted to the valve o, J une, A. D. 1877. and the lever h, pivoted to the oaJt, of the depending fulora. d d', integral With the cap B, THOS BINGHAM the fulorum d supporting the lever e and the THOMAS J MCTIGHE' fulcrum d supporting the lever h, as shown Witnesses: and described. J. J. MoCoRivuoK,

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We M. F. CONNOLLY. 

